Lancaster Woman & Dog Shot in Lancaster

LANCASTER, S.C. — Meet Copper, the best dog ever according to his owner, Lancaster resident Tiffany Noel.

“He is my child. He’s my baby,” says Noel.

But a couple of weeks ago, their lives were turned upside down. Noel was home alone with her two dogs and two cats when she let Copper outside to do his business while she brushed her teeth.

“All of the sudden, I hear a lot of very loud noises,” Noel explains.

Gunshots ripped into Noel’s home – and one went through Copper’s face. Watch this video caught on Noel’s Ring camera – she was grazed by a bullet, as well.

She then rushed to bring her badly wounded beagle inside and called her husband, who was out of town.

“I said, ‘I don’t think he’s going to make it,'” says Noel, “He lost a lot of blood in our home, a lot.”

Noel’s in-laws sped Copper to an emengency vet – and after several excruciating hours, the vet called back with great news: Copper was going to make it.

“Literally the happiest moment of my life,” Noel beams, “It really was.”

But there was a lot of damage.

“We found out his tongue was basically split in two,” Noel laments, “It’s knocked out some of his teeth. He’s got wounds on the sides of his face.”

And the road to recovery will be long and expensive. Noel and her husband have already spent north of $3,000 on medical expenses for Copper, money she says she’d spend again in a heartbeat.

“Copper really is the best dog. That night, I’m sure he was protecting his house. I’m sure that’s what he was trying to do. And I’d say he did a pretty good job. He took a bullet for our house.”

And Copper is one humble hero.

The Lancaster Police Department says the October 20 shooting is one of at least seven since September in the area – and detectives believe they’re all related. LPD is offering a $20,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest of those involved.

There is also a GoFundMe set up for Copper as he recovers from his injuries. You can find it here.